Empties #4: Honest Beauty Product Reviews & Would I Repurchase?

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It’s finally time for another beauty empties post. I have absolutely no idea why I only manage to post these about once a year, but the basket is officially overflowing, which means it’s time for some honest makeup and skincare reviews on what worked and what didn’t, and what is actually worth your hard earned money.

In this edition, I’m talking you through 8 makeup, skincare, and body care products I’ve entirely used up over the last few months. If you have dry skin like me, or if you’re just looking for affordable, honest beauty reviews before your next shopping haul, let’s get straight into it!

Urban Decay | Naked Skin Concealer

Discontinued

This concealer seemed to last me absolute ages, but I’ve finally scraped the tube completely clean. To give you the obvious spoiler: I really enjoyed using it. It offers full coverage but blends out incredibly easily without looking heavy.

I have quite dry skin, and this never emphasised any dry patches or flakes; instead, the formula feels creamy and weightless. It never creased on me, though I always make sure to set it with a light dusting of powder.

Would I Repurchase? One day! I currently have a few other concealers in my collection that I need to work through first, but I’d happily welcome this back. If you want a deeper look at how it wears, check out my: Full Urban Decay Naked Skin Review.

Urban Decay | All Nighter Setting Spray

I’ve surprisingly never really spoken about this setting spray in a round up on my blog before, which is wild considering how endlessly popular it is in the beauty community. It is forever being recommended and raved about, and for good reason. It is definitely one of the best on the market.

This spray locks your makeup down so firmly it simply will not move all day. It does leave the skin with a very matte finish, which means it isn’t necessarily the one I reach for when my skin is feeling especially dry or tight. That said, it is hands-down the best matte setting spray I have ever tried.

Would I Repurchase? Yes, absolutely! If you want to see exactly how it holds up over a long day and how I make it work for dry skin, you can read my: Full Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray Review.

Vita Liberata | Body Blur

I originally mentioned this in my April Favourites post because I wore it constantly back then. The Body Blur is designed to blur out skin blemishes, cover imperfections, and smooth the overall appearance of your skin. It also has an instant wash off color to it, so it functions beautifully as a temporary fake tan.

Now, I will openly admit that I am a lazy person. The mere thought of the whole multi step fake tanning process makes me feel tired before I’ve even started. Which is exactly why I opted for this! With Body Blur, you just apply it with a mitt and you are good to go pretty much straight away. The only catch is that it washes straight off in the shower. It doesn’t transfer onto clothes, it blends smoothly, and it’s incredibly fast.

Would I Repurchase? Since this post I actually made the step into fake tan. Here is one of my favourites, if you’d like to hear more.

The Body Shop | Vitamin E Moisturiser

I’ve spoken about the Vitamin E range from The Body Shop quite a few times on the blog because I am genuinely obsessed with it! If you struggle with dry skin, this is officially the range for you. At one point, pretty much my entire skincare routine was from this collection, and my skin has honestly never looked or felt so good.

This specific moisturiser is a long time favourite. When it comes to skincare, it can be so hard to know what to choose, so with The Body Shop being so accessible and affordable, it’s a complete no brainer. It sinks in quickly without leaving any greasy residue.

Would I Repurchase? I’m already halfway through another tub!

The Body Shop | Vitamin E Hydrating Toner

I wouldn’t exactly call myself a toner expert, but I really love this one. I use it right after cleansing by sweeping a small amount over my face with a cotton pad. You genuinely don’t need to use a lot of product per application, so a single bottle lasts a brilliant amount of time. My skin always feels wonderfully clean, hydrated, and refreshed after using it.

Would I Repurchase? I’m currently testing out a few other toners to review, but I would definitely pick this up again in the future.

The Body Shop | Banana Body Yogurt

Discontinued

I absolutely love the seasonal scents from The Body Shop, but my favourites always seem to end up being limited edition, which is sadly the case for this banana range. The body yogurt formula might actually be my new favourite body moisturiser.

Unlike heavy body butters, these yogurts absorb into the skin almost instantly and don’t leave you feeling sticky or greasy. I find the hydration lasts all day and leaves my skin feeling softer for much longer.

Would I Repurchase? Definitely. If The Body Shop does us all a massive favour and re-releases the banana line.

Essie | Fiji 

This is officially the first nail polish bottle I have ever completely used up in my life, and I am absolutely counting that as a major life achievement! It’s a bit sad, I know, but nail polishes usually go gloopy long before they are empty. While doing a recent vanity declutter, I realised this bottle was practically empty and drying out.

Fiji is my all time favourite nail colour. I love a classic, pale milky pink that is easy to work with, and that is exactly what this is. Unlike a lot of pastel shades, it doesn’t take layer after layer to build up smoothly. I always apply just two layers and the colour is perfectly opaque and smooth.

Would I Repurchase? Yes, a million times over. It’s my signature shade.

Too Faced | Festival Refresh Setting Spray

Discontinued

I had this setting spray sitting around in my collection with just a tiny bit left at the bottom, so I made a conscious effort to finally finish it up. It was released as part of a limited edition collection a while back, so I won’t go into too much detail since you can’t easily buy it anymore.

I wouldn’t say this is a bad setting spray, but it certainly isn’t one of the best. It’s a very average, dewy spray that contains fine cosmetic glitter particles, meaning you have to vigorously shake the bottle before use to mix the glitter into the liquid formula.

Would I Repurchase? Even if it wasn’t limited edition, probably not. I prefer my setting sprays without the extra glitter particles.

What’s In Your Empties Basket?

That is officially everything for Empties 4! Writing this all out makes me realise how satisfying it is to actually finish products, so I’m honestly baffled as to why my empties posts are always so far apart. I’ll make a promise right now to make sure Empties #5 drops a whole lot sooner!

Let’s chat in the comments!

 What beauty or skincare products have you entirely used up recently? Are there any holy grails I need to try next?

Thank you for reading!